Derrick Groves, the final escapee of ten prisoners who fled from a New Orleans jail nearly five months ago, has been apprehended at a residence in Atlanta. According to the US Marshals, Groves was captured following a standoff with local authorities on Wednesday. This marks the end of a significant manhunt that began when Groves and nine other inmates broke out of the Orleans Justice Center on May 16.
Deputy US Marshal Brian Fair confirmed that the successful capture of Groves was largely due to a tip received by Crimestoppers Greater New Orleans and extensive investigative efforts. Fair noted, “It took almost three hours to locate him in the house, gas had to be deployed into the house multiple times by the Atlanta Police Department’s SWAT team, and he was ultimately located hiding in a crawl space.” This operation highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement when tracking down fugitives.
New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams emphasized the serious implications of Groves' escape, calling it “a serious breach of public safety and a historic failure of custodial security.” Groves, 28, had previously been convicted of murdering two men during Mardi Gras in 2018. The district attorney's office described Groves as one of the gunmen who opened fire on a family gathering using AK-47-style assault rifles.
Following his capture, Williams expressed relief, stating, “His capture brings long-awaited calm to victims, their families, the witnesses who testified, and the people of New Orleans.” Groves faces charges stemming from his escape, and Williams assured the community that they would pursue every available legal avenue to hold him accountable for his crimes.
The dramatic escape began just after midnight on May 16 when a corrections monitoring technician stepped away from their post. At that time, the Orleans Justice Center was under lockdown, with inmates expected to remain in their cells. However, during the technician's brief absence, several inmates managed to tamper with the door of Cell Delta 1006. They succeeded in prying it open and accessed a handicap cell, where they utilized electric hair trimmers to cut through the walls behind a toilet, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
In a clever attempt to conceal their escape, the inmates reportedly replaced the toilet on the wall before fleeing into the night. As a parting message, they left a note on the wall that read, “To Easy LoL,” highlighting the audacity of their escape.
The apprehension of Groves in Atlanta was the result of a coordinated effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, the New Orleans Police Department, Louisiana State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI New Orleans. This collaborative approach underscores the commitment of law enforcement to ensure public safety.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill commented on Groves’ capture, stating he would “face charges for his role in the escape,” and assured the public that he would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The conclusion of this case serves as a reminder of the importance of effective custodial management and the ongoing efforts to keep communities safe from violent offenders.
